Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Ron Padgett’s "This For That" is a humorous and self-aware reflection on the interplay between literature and daily life, particularly focusing on how our physical states—like hunger—can influence our appreciation of art. By referencing William Carlos Williams's famous poem "This Is Just to Say," Padgett not only engages in a playful literary dialogue but also critiques the often unacknowledged relationship between readers and the experiences described in poems. The poem blends wit, casual language, and a tongue-in-cheek attitude to explore the tension between intellectual admiration and immediate physical desires.

The poem opens with a mundane, relatable question: "What will I have for breakfast?" This simple inquiry immediately grounds the poem in the everyday, signaling that Padgett’s reflections will stem from ordinary experiences rather than lofty, abstract ideas. The casual tone invites readers into the speaker’s morning routine, establishing a conversational mood that persists throughout the poem.

Padgett quickly introduces a literary reference: "I wish I had some plums / like the ones in Williams’s poem." Here, he refers to William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," a brief, imagist poem in which the speaker apologizes to his wife for eating plums that she was likely saving. Williams's poem is often celebrated for its simplicity and vivid imagery, turning an everyday moment into a poetic expression of human interaction and desire. By wishing for plums like the ones in Williams’s poem, Padgett draws attention to the sensory appeal of Williams’s writing but also sets up the humorous tension that follows.

The poem shifts as Padgett critiques Williams’s famous apology: "He apologized to his wife / for eating them / but what he did not / do was apologize to those / who would read his poem / and also not be able to eat them." This playful observation transforms a well-known literary moment into a lighthearted grievance. While Williams’s apology is directed toward his wife, Padgett humorously suggests that the real injustice lies in depriving readers of the plums. The idea that readers might feel slighted for not being able to eat the imaginary plums underscores the absurdity of conflating literary imagery with physical reality, but it also cleverly highlights how evocative writing can stir genuine desires.

Padgett’s tone becomes more pointed as he admits his shifting feelings toward the poem: "That is why I like his poem / when I am not hungry." This line succinctly captures the poem’s central joke: our appreciation for art can be influenced by our immediate, physical needs. When the speaker is not hungry, he can admire Williams’s poem for its artistry and evocative simplicity. But when hunger strikes, the poem becomes a source of frustration, a reminder of what he lacks. This humorous reversal suggests that even the most celebrated works of literature are not immune to the whims of bodily experience.

The poem concludes with a candid, almost petty confession: "Right now I do not like him / or his poem. This is just / to say that." The repetition of "This is just to say," which echoes the title of Williams’s poem, brings the poem full circle. Padgett uses Williams’s own phrasing to deliver his playful critique, turning the structure of the original poem against its author. The bluntness of "I do not like him / or his poem" adds to the humor, presenting the speaker’s irritation as both trivial and deeply felt. By mimicking the form and tone of Williams’s poem, Padgett transforms his minor grievance into a witty commentary on the relationship between readers, writers, and the physical world.

In "This For That," Padgett masterfully blends humor, literary allusion, and personal reflection to explore how immediate experiences shape our engagement with art. The poem’s casual, conversational tone invites readers to consider the ways in which seemingly trivial factors—like hunger—can influence our perceptions of even the most revered works. By playfully critiquing William Carlos Williams and his famous plums, Padgett not only pays homage to a poetic tradition but also reminds us that art is always encountered through the lens of our own experiences and desires. The poem stands as a lighthearted testament to the idea that while literature can evoke powerful emotions and imagery, sometimes, nothing beats the real thing—especially when you’re hungry.

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